Online Trauma Therapy & Counselling for Adults
Across the UK
When the ways you’ve learnt to cope are no longer helping you live the life you want.
Welcome to Lifeworks Therapies
Hello and a very warm welcome
If you've found your way here there is a good chance something in your life doesn't feel quite right.
Perhaps you are exhausted from holding everything together. You might feel constantly on edge, find yourself reacting in ways you don’t recognise, or wonder why the same patterns keep appearing in your relationships. Something may have happened that you cannot seem to move beyond, or a relationship may have ended and left you struggling to find your way forward.
You may know exactly what has brought you to therapy. Sometimes it is much less clear. You simply know that you don’t feel like yourself anymore, or that the ways you have learned to cope and keep going are no longer working as well as they once did.
Therapy gives us somewhere to begin making sense of that. Together, we can look at what has happened to you, the ways you have adapted to it and what may still be keeping you stuck. Understanding is an important part of the work, but therapy can also help you process what you have been carrying so that the past has less influence over how you feel, relate and live now.
I offer professional online therapy to adults across the UK. We work at a pace that feels manageable, with space to understand what has brought you here and to begin making changes that have meaning beyond the therapy room.
How I work
I'm Ruth, a senior BACP-accredited integrative therapist, with more than fifteen years' experience of helping adults navigate some of life's most difficult experiences.
Before becoming a therapist, I spent twenty years working as a scientist within the NHS. I have also spent several years working therapeutically with emergency service professionals. Both have shaped the way I work. I value warmth and compassion, but also honesty, curiosity and a willingness to look beneath the surface of what is happening.
As an integrative therapist, I don’t believe one way of working suits everyone. I draw on different therapeutic approaches depending on what you bring, what we come to understand together and what is likely to be most helpful for you.
Therapy with me is a collaborative process. We might explore how past experiences are affecting you now, make sense of patterns that seem difficult to change, or look more closely at feelings and reactions that have never quite made sense. I will listen carefully, but I will also ask questions, offer another perspective and sometimes gently challenge you when I think it may be useful.
Understanding matters when it begins to change something. Over time, that understanding can influence how you experience yourself, your relationships and your life.
The Benefits of Online Therapy
I work online with adults across the UK, with sessions taking place securely via Zoom or Teams.
Online therapy means you can attend sessions from a private space that feels comfortable and familiar, without the time or travel involved in attending in person. It can be easier to fit therapy around work, family and other commitments, while still allowing us to build a meaningful therapeutic relationship and work in depth.
What to Expect From Your First Therapy Session
Beginning therapy can feel like a big step, particularly if you are used to dealing with things on your own or find it difficult to talk about what has happened.
Our first session gives us time to begin understanding what has brought you to therapy and what you would like help with. You don’t need to arrive knowing exactly what is wrong or where to begin. We can work that out together.
It is also an opportunity for you to get a sense of me and how I work. Finding the right therapist matters, and there is no expectation that you make a decision about continuing before you have had the chance to see whether working together feels right.
You will not be expected to tell me everything in the first session. We will work at a pace that feels manageable, with time to build enough trust and understanding before approaching experiences that may be more difficult to talk about.
I work within the BACP Ethical Framework and undertake regular clinical supervision and ongoing professional development. Sessions are confidential, with information handled carefully and in accordance with GDPR requirements.
Your Questions Answered
If you’re considering therapy, you may have some questions about how I work and what to expect. I’ve answered some of the most common ones below.
What is your approach to therapy?
I work integratively, which means I adapt therapy to the person rather than following one fixed approach. I’m interested in understanding what has brought you here and working together to find an approach that is helpful to you.
How long will therapy take?
There is no set length of therapy. Some people come for a relatively short period, while others find longer-term work more helpful. We will review how things are going as we work together and you can decide when therapy feels complete.
How can therapy help me?
Therapy gives you time to understand what has been happening, make sense of how you are feeling and look at patterns or experiences that may be affecting you now. What we focus on will depend on what has brought you to therapy and what you would like to be different.
Do you offer a sliding scale?
No, I do not currently offer a sliding scale.
What is your cancellation policy?
You can rearrange or cancel appointments up to 24 hours without incurring any fee. Less than 24 hours’ notice or missing the session without giving notice, will incur a charge except in the case of unpredictable or serious personal emergencies.
Does what we talk about in therapy remain confidential?
I am a Senior Accredited Member of the BACP and work within its Ethical Framework for the Counselling Professions. What you tell me is treated confidentially, although there are some circumstances where information may need to be shared because of serious concerns about safety or where I am legally required to do so. I will explain the limits of confidentiality when we begin working together.
Do I have to talk about everything?
There is no expectation that you talk about anything before you feel ready to do so. We can take time to understand what feels manageable for you.
How do I schedule appointments?
You can book sessions after our initial call via email or phone. There’s no pressure; we go at a pace that suits you.
What age groups do you work with?
Currently, I work with individuals over the age of 18.
Can I work with you in person?
Currently, I offer online therapy only. This allows more flexibility and privacy for many clients.
What are the benefits of working online?
- You can have therapy anywhere that is comfortable and convenient for you.
- You have a greater choice of practitioners than if you were restricted by location.
- Having fewer visual distractions often encourages focus and concentration.
- You may find that you are more comfortable online or that it is easier to talk.
- You can choose a practitioner outside of your local or professional community.
- Support can be provided even when you are travelling.
What online platforms do you use?
I use Zoom or Teams with password protection to ensure safety and privacy. I will use telephone when these are not available, unless you are in another country as costs will make this prohibitive.
What are your qualifications?
- MA Counselling
- Postgraduate Diploma in Cognitive Behavioural Psychotherapies
- BSc (Hons) Psychology
- Internal Family Systems (IFS) Level 1
- Level 7 Certificate in Clinical Supervision
- Foundation Year in Systemic Practice and Family Therapy
- REWIND Technique
- Certificate in Online and Telephone Counselling
- Senior Accredited Member of the British Association of Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP)
Ethical Practice?
.I work in accordance with the BACP Ethical Framework for the Counselling Professions. This means that you can be assured of a high standard of practice. I also carry Professional Indemnity and Public Liability Insurance.
Do you work with Insurance Companies or EAPs?
I am currently registered with WPA.
How will you store information that you have about me?
All data will be collected and stored in line with current GDPR and ICO regulations.
Get in Touch
If you would like to arrange an initial therapy session or enquire about clinical supervision, please contact me.
Your information will be treated confidentially and handled in accordance with GDPR requirements.
Emergency Support
While therapy can support a wide range of emotional and psychological difficulties, online therapy may not always be suitable for individuals experiencing severe mental health crises or requiring urgent support. If you are in crisis and need urgent support or are worried about immediate risk of harm to self or others, please call 999. Alternatively, you can contact your GP and ask for an emergency appointment or visit your local A&E department. You can also contact the following services 24 hours a day, 7 days a week: NHS Helpline (111) and the Samaritans (116 123).